Appliance for a Toilet Having a Flush Responsive Audio Player

ABSTRACT

An appliance for a toilet having a flush responsive audio player plays preselected audio content keyed in response to a toilet flush event, the audio content having a meaning that is meant to induce a predetermined response in the user of the toilet. The preselected audio content may be pre-installed audio content, user-selected and installed audio content and/or user-generated, custom audio content. Any preselected audio content of copyrighted or un-copyrighted material may be employed in accord with the principles of the present invention

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is shown to the field of electrical audio systems anddevices, and more particularly, to a novel appliance for a toilet havinga flush responsive audio player.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Toilets are an established part of the infrastructure of the modernworld. For example, in the United States alone, by some estimates thereare one-hundred (100) to one hundred fifty (150) million households withtoilets with approximately three hundred (300) to three hundred fifty(350) million toilets total.

The bathroom experience for the most part is a solitary one, typicallyinvolving the steps of toilet use, flushing of the toilet and anyappropriate hygiene. Typically, the flushing of the toilet has an eventcharacter that occurs in time and is characterized by a distinctive“swoosh” sound as the water is evacuated from the bowl. Heretofore, thebathroom experience was completed with the performance of the foregoingsteps and the flushing sound incident to toilet use went largelyunnoticed as accompanying background noise.

There is thus a need for an appliance for a toilet having a flushresponsive audio player that makes the bathroom experience into a moreenjoyable and/or informative experience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to disclose anappliance for a toilet having a flush responsive audio player thattransforms the bathroom experience into a more enjoyable and/orinformative experience.

A related object of the present invention is to disclose an appliancefor a toilet having a flush responsive audio player that keyspreselected audio content to the flush sound made by the toilet suchthat the user experiences two sounds in close succession, initially theflush sound incident to toilet use, and subsequently the preselectedaudio content keyed to respond to the flush event, the audio contenthaving a meaning that is meant to induce a predetermined response in theuser of the toilet.

A related object of the present invention is to disclose an appliancefor a toilet having a flush responsive audio player where thepreselected audio content, keyed to respond to the flush event, is meantto induce humor, to be motivational, and among other predeterminedresponses to be propaedeutic to good hygienic practices.

Another object of the present invention is to disclose an appliance fora toilet having a flush responsive audio player where the preselectedaudio content, keyed to respond to the flush event, is pre-installedaudio content, is user-selected audio content selected from a library ofprerecorded audio content and/or is user-generated custom audio content.

A further object of the present invention to disclose an appliance for atoilet having a flush responsive audio player that is battery-poweredand usable over many flush cycles without requiring change of batteries.

Another object of the present invention is to disclose an appliance fora toilet having a flush responsive audio player that is user-friendlyand capable of low-cost manufacture.

In accord with these and other objects, the appliance for a toilethaving a flush responsive audio player in accord with the presentinvention is provided with a portable housing adapted for use with atoilet, preferably a clamshell housing, and means, such as an adhesivepatch attached to the clamshell housing, for removably mounting thehousing to the toilet.

Informational, branding, design or other graphics or indicia isprovided, preferably carried on cards imprinted with such indiciacontained within the clamshell housing.

A flush event sensor is provided that is responsive to evacuation ofwater from the toilet bowl to provide a flush event signalrepresentative that the toilet has been flushed. The flush event sensorpreferably includes an elongated wire adapted to extend from the housinginto the toilet tank. The conductor's of the elongated wire of the flushevent sensor normally are submerged in the water of the tank of thetoilet and are uncovered during a flush cycle to provide a signalrepresentative of a flush event although other means for providing asignal indication of a flush event could be employed without departingfrom the inventive concepts.

An audio player coupled to the flush event sensor is provided that isoperative in response to a flush event signal to play preselected audiocontent keyed to the flush sound made by the toilet such that the userexperiences two sounds in close succession, initially the flush soundincident to toilet use, and subsequently the preselected audio contentkeyed to respond to the flush event, the audio content having a meaningthat is meant to induce a predetermined response in the user of thetoilet.

The flush responsive audio player is preferably provided with abattery-powered sound controller including a processor operativelyconnected to the elongated wire of the flush event sensor and an audiospeaker carried by a printed circuit board mounted within the clamshellhousing.

A memory storing a library of audio content is preferably provided thatis operatively coupled to the processor of the sound controller. Thememory may be internal memory and the preselected audio content may bepre-installed in internal memory. The memory may be external memory,preferably a USB thumb drive, and the preselected audio content may beuser-selected audio content.

A microphone is preferably provided that is coupled to the processor ofthe sound controller of the flush responsive audio player. Themicrophone is used to provide user-generated custom audio content.

Any preselected audio content of copyrighted or un-copyrighted materialmay be employed in accord with the principles of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, inventive aspects and advantageous features ofthe present invention will become apparent as the invention becomesbetter understood by referring to the following, solely exemplary,detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments, and to thedrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates different exemplary use applications of the appliancefor a toilet having a flush responsive audio player in accord with thepresent invention, showing in the FIG. 1A thereof a private holidayscene where the audio content played in response to a flush event ismeant to induce a humorous mood, surprise and laughter;

FIG. 1B is a pictorial view showing a commercial public scene where theaudio content played in response to a flushing event is meant to inducecontinued in-store shopping;

FIG. 1C is a pictorial view showing a home scene where the audio contentplayed in response to a flush event is meant by an attending mother toinduce good hygienic habits in her child's use of the toilet;

FIG. 2 is an exploded pictorial view illustrating an appliance for atoilet having a flush responsive audio player in accord with the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram of the flush responsive audio playerof the appliance for a toilet having a flush responsive audio player inaccord with the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the processor ofthe sound controller of the appliance for a toilet having a flushresponsive audio player in accord with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The appliance for a toilet having a flush responsive audio player of thepresent invention emits audio content such as recordings, sayings, soundeffects, music and among other things phrases that is triggered when atoilet is flushed. The audio content follows in close succession theflush sound of the flush event and is keyed to respond to the flushevent. Of the two sounds that follow each other, the audio content has ameaning that is meant to induce a response in the toilet user. Themeaning and intended response is context dependent and varies accordingto the location of the toilet (private or public, governmental,educational, commercial, etc.), status or age of the user (child, adult,adolescent, student, patron of a public or private institution or home,etc.) and, among others, the response or purpose the audio content isintended to impart or serve (humor, motivational, messaging, includingtheme applications for holidays, sports teams, advertising, branding, aswell as functional uses in staff bathrooms, and/or among others toilettraining such as assisting a toddler with developing good bathroompractices, etc.). The applications of the present invention thus havingsuch a wide range of possible use contexts, it will be appreciated thatthe description of the FIGS. 1A-1C is solely exemplary of some presentlypreferred use applications.

Referring now to FIG. 1A, generally designated at 10 is a privateholiday scene where the audio content played in response to a flushevent is meant to induce humor, surprise and laughter. A private homegenerally designated 12 is shown decorated with Halloween partyparaphernalia 14. An apparatus for a toilet having a flush responsiveaudio player generally designated 16 in accord with the presentinvention is shown mounted on the side of a toilet generally designated18. In the illustrated exemplary Halloween party environment, uponflushing of the toilet 18 and hearing the flush sound, the user hearsthe audio content “Boo!” 20 in close succession. In this application, aswill be readily appreciated, the audio content 20 is meant to induce ahumorous mood, surprise and laughter in the toilet user.

Referring now to FIG. 1B, generally designated at 30 is a commercialpublic scene where the audio content played in response to a flushingevent is meant to motivate in-store shopping. In each of the stallsgenerally designated 32 of a commercial sales institution an apparatusfor a toilet having a flush responsive audio player generally designated34 is shown mounted on the side of a toilet generally designated 36. Inthe illustrated exemplary store environment, upon flushing of the toilet36 and hearing the flush sound, the user hears the audio content“Welcome shoppers! Today you can save fifty percent on toilet paper!” 38in close succession. In this application, as will be readilyappreciated, the audio content 38 is meant to induce in the usercontinued in-store shopping after leaving the store's bathroom.

Referring now to FIG. 1C, generally designated at 60 is a home scenewhere the audio content played in response to a flush event is meant byan attending mother to induce good hygienic habits in her child. Abathroom generally designated 62 of a private home having a toiletgenerally designated 64 is shown occupied by a mother and child. Anappliance for a toilet having a flush responsive audio player generallydesignated 66 is shown mounted on the side of the toilet 64. In theillustrated exemplary training environment, upon the mother's flushingof the toilet after its use by her child, the child hears the audiocontent “Good job! Now wash your hands” 68 in close succession. As willbe readily appreciated, the audio content 68 in this exemplaryapplication is meant to induce and reinforce good hygienic habits uponeach use of the toilet.

Referring now to FIG. 2, generally designated at 90 is an explodedpictorial view illustrating an appliance for a toilet having a flushresponsive audio player in accord with the present invention. Theappliance 90 includes a printed circuit board generally designated 92mounted within a clamshell housing generally designated 94. An elongatedwire generally designated 96 having exposed electrical contacts 98 isattached to the printed circuit board 92 and extends from the clamshellhousing 94. The exposed electrical contacts 98 of the elongated wire 96are normally submerged in the water tank of a toilet, not shown, whoseconductivity changes, when exposed during evacuation of the flushingtoilet bowl as the tank empties and is cyclically refilled, to provide asignal representative of a flush event. An adhesive patch, not shown, isfixed to the clamshell housing 94, although other means for mounting theappliance 94 to the toilet could be employed.

A user control input switch 100, sound controller integrated circuit(IC) 102, battery pack 104, microphone 106, speaker 108 and USBinterface 110 are carried by the printed circuit board 92.

The clamshell housing 94 includes mating front and rear housing portions112, 114 preferably of transparent plastic material. A card 116 is insetinto the front housing portion 112 of the clamshell housing 94 and acard 118 is insert in the rear housing portion 114 of the clamshellhousing 94. Informational, branding, design or other graphics includingoperational instructions, not shown, may be provided on the cards 116,118. As will be readily appreciated, any such indicia will be visible toa user through the transparent front and rear housing portions 112, 114of the clamshell housing 94 and will vary with the particular useapplication.

The front housing portion 112 of the clamshell housing 94 is providedwith a compressible area generally designated 120, that allows foractuation of the subjacent switch 100, and is provided with openingsgenerally designated 122, 124 and 126 respectively aligned with themicrophone 106, speaker 108 and interface 110. The opening 122 allowsthe user to input custom audio content into the microphone 106, theopenings 124 allow the user to hear audio content played by the speaker108 and the opening 126 permits insertion of a thumb drive, not shown,into the interface 110.

Referring now to FIG. 3, generally designated at 150 is a block circuitdiagram of the flush responsive audio player of the appliance for atoilet having a flush responsive audio player of the present invention.

The flush responsive audio player 150 includes a dedicated soundcontroller integrated circuit (IC) 152 having processor 154 operativelyconnected to an internal memory 156. Any suitable sound controllerintegrated circuit (IC) may be employed. Although a dedicated soundcontroller IC is presently preferred, the flush responsive audio playercould be otherwise implemented in hardware.

The memory 156 includes programmable ROM containing program code, anddata RAM containing pre-installed audio content, both not shown.Preferably, three tracks of pre-installed audio content preferably inMP3 format are stored in the internal memory 156, although a differentnumber of at least one track of audio content and/or audio content in adifferent format may be employed.

An external memory 158 is operatively coupled to the processor 154 ofthe dedicated sound controller 152 via external memory interface 160.The external memory 158 preferably is a USB thumb drive although anothertype of external memory could be employed. The external memory 158preferably includes three tracks of user-selected audio contentpreferably in MP3 format stored therein, although a different number ofat least one track of user-selected audio content and/or audio contentin another format may be employed.

The user-selected audio content stored in the external memory of thethumb drive 158 preferably is selected by downloading audio content ontothe thumb drive 158 from an Internet website. Other sources ofuser-selectable audio content may be employed. In the presentlypreferred and illustrated exemplary embodiment, the processor 154 readsthe user-selected audio content in the thumb drive and stores it in theinternal memory 156, which allows removal of the thumb drive 158. Theuser-selected audio content alternately may be played directly fromexternal memory 158 eliminating the need to have internal RAM memorystoring audio content.

A microphone 162 is operatively coupled to the processor 154 viainput/output (I/O) ports 164 and analog/digital (A/D) converter 166. Themicrophone 162 allows the appliance owner to generate custom audiocontent and to store it in internal memory 156 for replay. Typically,the microphone allows the user to input sounds that they have generatedthemselves, or that are playing on some external sound source.

An audio output speaker 168 is operatively coupled to the processor 154via the input/output (I/O) ports 164 and the analog/digital (A/D)converter 166. The speaker 168 provides for play back of pre-installed,user-selected and user-installed and/or user-generated custom audiocontent.

A user control input switch 170 and flush sensor 172 are operativelycoupled to the processor 154 via input ports 174. The user input switch170 preferably is a single contact switch that is depressed to initiatea test and is sequentially depressed to toggle-select the differenttracks of pre-installed, user-selected and installed and/oruser-customized audio content stored in memory for replay in response tosensing a flush event. A record input switch, not shown, is provided toselect microphone record mode. Of course, other user control input meansand/or other control protocols could be employed.

Referring now to FIG. 4, generally designated at 190 is a flowchartillustrating the operation of the processor of the sound controller ofthe flush responsive audio player of the toilet accessory having a flushresponsive audio player in accord with the present invention.

As shown by a block 192, the processor is normally in idle or waitstate.

As shown by a block 194, in response to sensing a flush event, theprocessor delays a predetermined time as shown by block 196, preferablythree (3) seconds to avoid interference with the sound of the flushingtoilet, and plays the audio content set for replay as shown by block198. Processing then returns to the block 192. Typically, two soundswill be heard, the sound of the flushing toilet and the audio contentkeyed to respond to the flush event. The reason to play the audiocontent with a predetermined delay is that user's can hear it properly.Usually, a flush sound is still in its denouement when the audio contentplays. The audio content may be any preselected audio content ofcopyrighted or un-copyrighted material that is pre-installed,user-selected and installed, and/or user-generated custom audio content.

As shown by block 200, in response to test select input, the processoris operative to play the audio content set for testing as shown by theblock 198, and thereafter processing returns to the block 192.

As shown by block 202, in response to user input sound track selection,the processor is operative to set for play the selected audio content asshown by block 204, and processing returns to the block 192.

As shown by block 206, in response to user microphone record inputselection, the processor is operative to record a user-generated customsound as shown by block 208 and to store it in internal memory as shownby block 210. Thereafter processing returns to the block 192.

As shown by block 212, in response to connection of the external memorythumb drive, the processor is operative to read the user-selected audiocontent downloaded on the thumb drive and to store it in internal memoryas shown by block 214. Processing then returns to the block 192.

It will be appreciated that the accessory for a toilet having a flushresponsive audio player of the present invention can be variouslyembodied to meet specific design goals.

For example, in one entry level model not separately illustrated, asingle track of MP3 audio content is provided in internal memory and thesound controller IC is programmed to play that single track whenevertested or in response to a flush event.

In another entry level model embodiment not separately illustrated, alibrary of three tracks of MP3 audio content is provided pre-installedin internal memory and the sound controller is programmed to respond totoggling of a single contact input switch to set for replay selectedones of the tracks of the library of pre-installed audio content keyedin response to a flush event.

In a further embodiment not separately illustrated, the appliance isprovided with a microphone for recording user-generated custom audiocontent and a library that features both user-customized andpre-installed audio content in internal memory. In this embodiment, thesound controller is programmed to record user-generated custom audiocontent input via the microphone in internal memory and to respond totoggling of a single contact input switch to set for replay one of thetracks of the library of pre-installed and user-generated custom audiocontent keyed in response to a flush event.

In a further embodiment not separately illustrated, the appliance isprovided with a library that features preselected audio contentpre-installed in internal memory and user-selected audio contentdownloaded onto external memory. In this embodiment, the processor isprogrammed to store the user-selected audio content on the externaldrive into its internal memory and to respond to toggling of a singlecontact input switch to set for replay one of the tracks of the libraryof pre-installed and user-selected audio content in response to a flushevent.

Although a dedicated sound controller integrated circuit (IC) and ahardware implemented flush event sensor are presently preferred, thesound controller and/or flush event sensor could be implemented insoftware, such as on a portable programmable computer (netbook, laptop,smart phone etc.) having an audio input channel, where the portableprogrammable computer is programmed to monitor its audio input channelto recognize a flush event and to play preselected audio content keyedto respond to the flush event.

Many modifications of the presently disclosed invention will becomeapparent to those of skill in the art having the benefit of the instantdisclosure without departing from the inventive concepts.

What is claimed is:
 1. An appliance for use in proximity to a toiletthat transforms the bathroom experience into a more enjoyable and/orinformative experience, comprising: a flush responsive audio playerhaving a library of at least one track of preselected audio content thatis operative in response to flushing of the toilet to play a track ofits library of at least one track of audio content in such a way as tokey the playing of the track of audio content to the flush sound made bythe toilet so that the user experiences two sounds in close succession,initially the flush sound, incident to toilet use, and subsequently thetrack of audio content keyed to respond to the flush event, the track ofaudio content having a meaning that is meant to induce a predeterminedresponse in the user of the toilet.
 2. The invention of claim 1, whereinthe audio content keyed to the flush sound is meant to induce one ofhumor, to be motivational, and to be propaedeutic of good hygienicpractices.
 3. The invention of claim 1, further including a casingproviding a protective housing for the flush responsive audio playerthat is adapted for removable mounting to the toilet.
 4. The inventionof claim 1, wherein the preselected audio content of the library ofpreselected audio content includes pre-installed audio content.
 5. Theinvention of claim 1, wherein the preselected audio content of thelibrary of preselected audio content includes user-installed audiocontent.
 6. The invention of claim 1, wherein the preselected audiocontent of the library of preselected audio content includesuser-generated custom audio content.
 7. The invention of claim 3,further including means for mounting the housing casing to the toilet.8. An appliance for a toilet having a flush responsive audio player,comprising: a portable housing adapted for use with a toilet; a flushevent sensor responsive to evacuation of water from the toilet toprovide a flush event signal representative that the toilet has beenflushed; and means mounted to the housing and coupled to the flush eventsensor operative in response to a flush event signal to play preselectedaudio content keyed to respond to the flush event such that the userexperiences two sounds in close succession, initially the flush sound,incident to toilet use, and subsequently the track of audio contentkeyed to respond to the flush event, the track of audio content having ameaning that is meant to induce a predetermined response in the user ofthe toilet.
 9. The invention of claim 8, wherein the portable housingincludes a clamshell housing and means for removably mounting theclamshell housing to the toilet.
 10. The invention of claim 8, whereinthe toilet has a water tank and wherein the flush event sensor includesan elongated wire adapted to extend from the housing into the watertank, where the conductor's of the elongated wire normally are submergedwhen the elongated wire is inserted in the tank.
 11. The invention ofclaim 8, wherein said play means includes a sound controller including aprocessor and an audio speaker carried by a printed circuit board. 12.The invention of claim 11, wherein a memory storing a library of audiocontent is operatively coupled to the processor of the sound controller.13. The invention of claim 12, wherein the memory is internal memory andthe library is at least one track of pre-installed audio content. 14.The invention of claim 12, wherein the memory is external memory and thelibrary is at least one track of user-selected audio content.
 15. Theinvention of claim 12, further including a microphone operativelycoupled to the processor, wherein the memory is internal memory andwherein the library includes at least one track of custom audio contentuser-generated by recording custom audio content via the microphone andstoring it in internal memory.